Bulk film loading device

ABSTRACT

A device for loading bulk film on a cassette having a first film holding chamber and a second cassette holding chamber. Film passes through a slot in a wall between the chambers. A drum member is mounted in the first chamber. The drum member includes a wall provided with an opening therein. The wall of the drum turns inside of and adjacent the wall of the first chamber between a first position in which the opening and the slot are aligned and a second position in which the drum wall closes the slot. A door closes the second chamber. A disc is mounted on the door and is engageable with the drum. A socket in the drum is opposed to the disc when the drum is in slot closed position. A portion of the disc advances into the socket when the door is open to lock the drum against turning when the door is open. When the door is closed, the drum enters a cut away portion of the disc when the drum is turned to slot open position to lock the door against opening when the drum is in slot open position.

United States Patent n91 Backscheider BULK FILM LOADING DEVICE [76]Inventor: Nickolas A. Backscheider, 4415 Appleton Ave., Mariemont, Ohio45209 [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 305,053

[52] US. Cl. 242/7l.7 [51] Int. Cl. G03b 17/26 [58] Field of Search242/7l.7; 70/312; 95/11 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,298,339 10/1942 Boes 242/71.7X

Primary Examiner.lohn W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-John M. JillionsAttorney, Agent, or Firm-James W. Pearce; Roy F. Schaeperklaus [57]ABSTRACT A device for loading bulk film on a cassette having a 1 Aug.13, 1974 first film holding chamber and a second cassette holdingchamber. Film passes through a slot in a wall between thechambers. Adrum member is mounted in the first chamber. The drum member includes awall provided with an opening therein. The wall of the drum turns insideof and adjacent the wall of the first chamber between a first positionin which the opening and the slot are aligned and a second position inwhich the drum wall closes the slot. A door closes the second chamber. Adisc is mounted on the door and is engageable with the drum. A socket inthe drum is opposed to the disc when the drum is in slot closedposition. A portion of the disc advances into the socket when the dooris open to lock the drum against turning when the door is open. When thedoor is closed, the drum enters a cut away portion of the disc when thedrum is turned to slot open position to lock the door against openingwhen the drum is in slot open position.

5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures BULK FILM LOADING DEVICE This inventionrelates to a device for loading bulk film in a cassette or the like.More particularly, this invention relates to an improved light trappingand film loading arrangement for such a device.

An object of this invention is to provide a bulk film loading devicehaving a door which can be opened for threading film and to a lighttrapping arrangement which prevents light from reaching bulk film in thedevice when the door is open.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device in whichthere are interlocks between the door and the light trapping arrangementso that the door cannot be opened except when the light trap is closed.

Briefly, this invention provides a bulk film loading device having afirst chamber in which bulk film is mounted and a second chamber inwhich a cassette can be mounted. A door can be opened to provide accessto the secondchamber. Bulk film can pass through an opening in a wallbetween the chambers. A light trapping drum is mounted in the firstchamber and can be turned between an open position in which a slot inthe drum is aligned with the opening between chambers and a closedposition in which a portion of a wall of the drum closes the opening. Alocking disc, which pivots with the door, is received in a slot in thedrum to lock the drum in closed position when the door is opened and toprevent opening of the door when the drum is in open position.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertainsfrom the following detailed description and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bulk film loading device constructedin accordance with an embodiment of this invention with a door thereofin open position, a cassette being shown in place therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the device with the door closed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the device with the door open;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken on the line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken on the line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the upperportion of a door hinging structure of the device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in horizontalsection of the device with the door closed;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in horizontalsection of the device with the door open;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken on the line 99 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken on the line l0-l0 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a view in section taken on the line 11-11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a view in section taken on the line 12l2 showing the cassetteof FIG. 1 in position thereof; and

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken on the line 13l3 in FIG. 11 showinganother cassette mounted in the device.

In the following detailed description and the drawings, like referencecharacters indicate like parts.

In FIG. 1 is shown a bulk film loading device 20 constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of this invention. The film loading device20 includes a main body 22 comprising a main bulk film holding chamber23 and a smaller cassette holding chamber 24. The main chamber 23includes a bottom or floor panel 26 (FIG. 10) and an upwardly extendingsubstantially cylindrical wall 27 provided with a slot 28 (FIGS. 7 and8) communicating with the smaller chamber 24. A central pin 29 ismounted in a boss 30 (FIG. 10) at the center of the floor panel 26. Asleeve 31 rotatably mounted on the pin 29 can receive a roll of bulkfilm 32 (FIG. 7) with an end portion 33 of the film extending throughthe slot 28. Ribs 35, which extend upwardly from the floor panel 26,support the roll 32 of film. A drum member 34 is rotatably mounted onthe pin 29. A main flange 36 (FIG. 10), which extends outwardly of amain upper panel 361 of the drum member 34, rests on the upstandingcylindrical wall 27. An annular flange 38 on the main drum flange 36extends into a groove 39 in the upper edge of the wall 27 to form alight seal therebetween. A substantially cylindrical downwardlyextending wall 41 of the drum member 34 turns inside the wall 27 of themain chamber 23 adjacent thereto. A slot or opening 42 in the wall 41(FIG. 7) of the drum can register with slot 28 in the wall 27 as shownin FIG. 7. The drum member 34 can be turned to the FIG. 8 position inwhich the slots 28 and 42 are out of registry. A block 43 mounted on thefloor panel 26 limits swinging of the drum member 34. A nut 44 (FIG. 10)threaded on the upper end of the pin 29 holds the drum member 34 and themain body 22 in assembled relation. When the drum 34 is in closedposition, as shown in FIG. 8, the endportion 33 of the film is heldagainst the outer face of the wall 41 by a rounded edge 46 of the wall27 at the slot 28.

The end portion 33 of the film extends across the chamber 24 and can bewound on a cassette 47 by turning of a crank 48. As shown in FIG. 11,the crank 48 carries a slotted head 49 which can engage a spindle 491(FIG. 12) of the cassette 47 (FIG. 1). The upper end of the cassette 47is held by a spring-pressed plunger 50 (FIG. 11) which is urgeddownwardly by a compression spring 51. A cassette guide 52 is mountedinside the chamber 24 for guiding the cassette 47 into position betweenthe plunger 50 and the crank head 49. The guide 52 is attached to alower or floor panel 53 of the chamber 24 by a pivot pin 56 (FIG. 1) anda screw fastener 57 (FIG. 11) which can extend into a boss 571 of theguide 52. As the end portion 33 of the film enters the chamber 24, itpasses over a sprocket 58 (FIGS. 7 and 10) which carries an upstandingpin 59. The pin 59 acts to turn a gear 61 which actuates counting dials62 and 63 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to indicate the amount of film delivered tothe cassette 47. The sprocket 58 is rotatably mounted on a post 64 whichextends upwardly from the floor panel 53. The end portion of the film isguided by the post 64 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The chamber 24 is closed by a door panel 66 (FIG.

1) which includes a pin portion 67 (FIGS. 4 and 5) pivotally mounted ina socket 68 in the floor panel 53 and a bore 69 in a cover plate 71which forms an upper wall for the chamber 24. Fasteners 72 (FIG. 1), 721and 722 (FIG. 2) attach the cover plate 71 to the main body 22. The doorpanel 66 carries film guides 74 and 75 (FIG. 1). The upper end of thepin portion 67 is square in section as indicated at 76 in FIG. 6 and isexposed above the cover plate 71. A disc 77 having a square centralopening 78 is received on the square portion 76 and is held thereon by awasher 79 and a screw fastener 81. The disc rests on a curved bearingridge 83 of the cover plate 71. A portion of the disc 77 is cut away onan are 84 so that when the door panel 66 is closed as shown in FIG. 2,the main flange 36 of the drum member 34 fits closely against the cutaway portion 84 and the door panel is locked closed when the drum 34 isin the FIG. 7 position with the slots 28 and 42 aligned. When the drum34 is moved to. the FIGS. 3 and 8 position, the disc 77 is aligned witha socket or slot 87 in the flange 36, and the door panel 66 can be swungto open position. In the door open position, the slots 28 and 42 are outof alignment, as shown in FIG. 8, and the walls 27 and 41 form a lighttrap preventing entrance of light into the interior of the chamber 23.The disc 77 is received in the socket 87 and locks the drum againstturning when the door panel 66 is open. Edges of the door panel 66(FIG. 1) and of the floor panel 53, the cover plate 71 and a rear wall90 of the chamber 24 are provided with interlocking portions to prevententrance of light into the chamber 24 when the door panel 66 is closed.A tab 91 on the door panel can be engaged for opening the door panelwhen a cassette is to be loaded in or removed from the chamber 24.

The screw fastener 57 (FIG. 11) can be unscrewed to be released from theboss 571, and the guide 52 can be swung back about the pivot pin 56 tothe position shown in FIG. 13 to provide a space sufficiently large toreceive a large cassette 93 with the large cassette 93 engaging arounded portion 94 of a wall 96 of the main body 22 and a lug 97 of thecassette 93 received in a socket 98 in the wall 96 to position thecassette 93 so that film 99 can be wound thereon in the same manner aswith the smaller cassette described hereinabove.

The bulk film loading device illustrated in the drawings and describedabove is subject to structural modification without departing from thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby letters patent is:

I. A device for loading bulk film on a cassette which comprises a bodyhaving a first chamber and a second chamber therein, a wall in the bodyseparating the chambers, there being a slot in the wall for passage offilm, means for mounting a roll of film in the first chamber with an endportion of the roll of film extending through the slot, a drum membermounted in the film chamber, the drum member having a wall provided withan opening therein, the wall of the drum turning inside of and adjacentthe wall of the body member between a first position in which theopening and the slot are aligned and a second position in which the drumwall closes the slot, a door for closing the second chamber, the doorhaving a hinge pin portion rotatably mounted adjacent the drum, a discmounted on the hinge pin portion for rotation in unison with the hingepin and door and engageable with the drum, there being a socket in thedrum opposed to the disc when the drum is in slot closed position, aportion of the disc advancing into the socket when the door is open tolock the drum against turning when the door is open, the disc having acut away portion opposed to the drum when the door is closed, the drumentering the cut away portion when the drum is turned to slot openposition to lock the door against opening when the drum is in slot openposition, means for mounting a cassette in the second chamber, and meansfor turning a spindle of the cassette to wind the film on the cassette.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the drum wall and the wall of thefirst chamber are adapted to hold the end portion of the filmtherebetween adjacent the slot when the drum is in slot closed position.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein there are film guides on the doorwhich guide the film to the cassette.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the end portion of the film passes inengagement with a post, a sprocket is mounted on the post, the sprocketis engaged by the film and is turned as the film advances, and thesprocket actuates counting mechanism.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the wall of the first chamber has aninwardly projecting smooth curved surfaced rib extending transversely ofthe direction of drum wall movement, and the drum wall and the rib onthe wall of the first chamber are adapted to hold the end portion of thefilm therebetween adjacent the slot when the drumis in slot closedposition.

1. A device for loading bulk film on a cassette which comprises a bodyhaving a first chamber and a second chamber therein, a wall in the bodyseparating the chambers, there being a slot in the wall for passage offilm, means for mounting a roll of film in the first chamber with an endportion of the roll of film extending through the slot, a drum membermounted in the film chamber, the drum member having a wall provided withan opening therein, the wall of the drum turning inside of and adjacentthe wall of the body member between a first position in which theopening and the slot are aligned and a second position in which the drumwall closes the slot, a door for closing the second chamber, the doorhaving a hinge pin portion rotatably mounted adjacent the drum, a discmounted on the hinge pin portion for rotation in unison with the hingepin and door and engageable with the drum, there being a socket in thedrum opposed to the disc when the drum is in slot closed position, aportion of the disc advancing into the socket when the door is open tolock the drum against turning when the door is open, the disc having acut away portion opposed to the drum when the door is closed, the drumentering the cut away portion when the drum is turned to slot openposition to lock the door against opening when the drum is in slot openposition, means for mounting a cassette in the second chamber, and meansfor turning a spindle of the cassette to wind the film on the cassette.2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the drum wall and the wall of thefirst chamber are adapted to hold the end portion of the filmtherebetween adjacent the slot when the drum is in slot closed posiTion.3. A device as in claim 1 wherein there are film guides on the doorwhich guide the film to the cassette.
 4. A device as in claim 1 whereinthe end portion of the film passes in engagement with a post, a sprocketis mounted on the post, the sprocket is engaged by the film and isturned as the film advances, and the sprocket actuates countingmechanism.
 5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the wall of the firstchamber has an inwardly projecting smooth curved surfaced rib extendingtransversely of the direction of drum wall movement, and the drum walland the rib on the wall of the first chamber are adapted to hold the endportion of the film therebetween adjacent the slot when the drum is inslot closed position.